Abstract

Surveillance of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria in stool cultures in a university hospital in Santiago, Chile Background: Clinical cultures detect only one-third of colonized patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Early identification and contact precautions implementation would help to interrupt transmission. In our hospital no carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria infections have been described. Aim: To perform stool surveillance cultures in patients hospitalized in critical care unit with the purpose to detect carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriacea. Material and Methods: Rectal swabs were obtained of patients after five or more days of hospital stay, on a monthly basis from July to December 2011. Phenotypic assays (modified test Hodge and phenylboronic acid test) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) searching for six carbapenemases of group A and B of Ambler's classification were performed. Results: During this period, 241 surveillance rectal cultures were performed. Thirty eight enterobacteria isolated from 30 patients presented a decreased susceptibility to carbapenems by agar dilution method. All PCR were negative. Conclusion: We found that despite the significant number of resistant isolates, patients hospitalized in our institution are not colonized with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. We highlight the importance of screening before having the problem in place.